I know that people probably hear ‘doctorate’ and think I’m working away at obscure conjugations of a rare Greek verb in a relatively insignificant corner of a New Testament footnote, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I chose to do a Doctor of Ministry degree, with a focus on developing ‘Jesus movements’, because that is what I want my life to be about…helping everyday people become missional disciples in their day to day lives, and developing a way of being church that supports and strengthens that.
My core conviction is that people need Jesus. Full stop. Those already following Jesus need Jesus, and our goal is to delve into our union with Christ for our own benefit and for God’s glory. And, as a result of that, we become the kind of people who can move beyond our own stories and influence others in the direction of Jesus too. At the end of the day, there isn’t anything more significant that you could give your life to. We’re dealing with the weighty matters of eternity.
My studies are about digging deeper myself…pushing myself to be able to clearly articulate the core of what I’m totally convinced of through years of reflection in a way that just helps me have a clear and robust frame work for ministry. Facilitating the flourishing of a group of Jesus followers to help them move towards what Jesus intended is the goal. We need to be less and less like many of our inherited models of the church, which often just miss the point, to be honest.
I don’t need the degree for that, of course, but the degree is not the point. The point is to be learning amongst some of the best thinkers on developing Jesus movements in the world, with Arran in mind, and daring to dream and imagine a different way to be. The reality is that my heart is bursting with possibility. The real task, however, is to ignite hearts and minds in a way that shares the passion for Jesus and his Kingdom and NOT to rest on the old narratives that tell us that Kingdom breakthrough is unlikely here. That’s a lie straight from the devil’s punch bowl!
A sculptor takes a piece of wood. Inside that piece of wood, he/she knows there is a beautiful creation about to be unveiled. They have to start chipping away at all the unnecessary bits of wood in order to allow the sculpture to emerge in all its beauty. This is what the study process is for me. It’s believing that Jesus is building a remarkable thing this side of eternity. We have so much chiseling away that needs to happen to allow the beautiful bride/body of Christ to emerge and arise. Jesus deserves it, and it is what he gave his life for. Should we give our lives to anything less than this?
This wee post is a share with you – but it’s also an inward note to self: don’t stop chiselling and come away with anything less than the beauty of what Christ is calling us to be. I need to weep and pray as much as I study, to be honest. Our day does not need more of ‘the same old’ – the same old is dying. We need such a fresh vision of who Jesus is and who he is calling us to be.
Don’t settle for anything less.
Andrew S M Clark 